What are the main roles of a software developer?
Everyone knows the term ‘software developer’, yet not so many people truly understand the variety of roles these professionals can take on. From designing apps to making sales, the spectrum of software development is expansive and caters to individuals of all skills, backgrounds and experiences.
Whether you’re a highly experienced dev or new to the field, gaining a security cleared software development position can be an extremely gratifying area of work. Here are some of the main roles you can take on in your career path.
Web or app developer
Web developers design and build web pages, such as websites, whilst maintaining both the client-facing (front-end) and servers and databases (back-end). On the other hand, an application developer is responsible for designing, creating and updating apps that run on specific operating systems and devices. Generally, these professionals specialise in a particular area, such as iOS or Android.
UX or UI designer
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) designers are great roles for software developers who have a lot of empathy and a more artistic background. Although these positions sound like professionals simply interacting with users of a website or app and then fixing their issues, it’s actually a lot more complex than that. Requiring solid coding skills, the job involves collaborating with plenty of other experts to create mockups and eventually implement new designs.
Software tester
Software development isn’t all about design and code. In fact, a huge part of the role involves identifying and resolving bugs or other software-related issues. As such, software testing is a specific role in which experts test for errors before launch and is integral to any successful company - nobody wants their product or service going live with errors.
Sales engineer
The position of sales engineer is ideal for any software developer looking to broaden their skills beyond coding and programming. Essentially, these experts use their technical prowess to sell technologically advanced products and services to businesses. This job requires extensive knowledge of the functions of each product, which is where the background of a software developer comes into play. These positions are often commission-based, which means your compensation can rely on meeting or surpassing sales targets.
Management roles
Software developers have a lot of skills and experience that make them great managers. For example, transitioning into a business analyst role involves making use of significant technological analysis tools to ensure a business is hitting, or heading toward, its objectives. This position may not demand any heavy programming or coding skills, but it certainly does involve analytical and problem-solving responsibilities. Other management roles that software developers should consider a transition to include project manager and scrum master.